Khulay Darwazey in 1947

The reason we see the 1947 partition as a warm and communal experience is not just because of the actions of the people welcoming others in their house. The way Intezaar Hussein portrays Shaam Nagar through his language is also very important. There is repeated use of the word "Khulay" in his descriptions of the ruined buildings of the city almost showing that they are an inviting place ready to allow immigrants to stay there. In the long description of Shaam Nagar (pg 93) we come across phrases like "makaan thay ke khulay paray", "darwazey aur dareechay sab khulay hue" and again"dareecha bay dhyaani mein khula reh gya". The first person narrative of Zakir the immigrant not only shows how he is viewing the city but also how other immigrants like him are going through the experience. In the midst of the horrors, these open houses with furniture in them give people the possibility to settle there, accept partition and begin a new relationship with the people of the community.
Apart from the available space in the empty buildings of the city, Intezaar Hussein brings in the human element in this chaos by showing willingness of people (at least initially) to help others. Here too, he evokes the image of people's hearts being vast with words like "Imaarton se zyadha dilon mein gunjaish thi" literally being read as people having great space in their heart to accommodate other migrants. In this sense, the empty furnished buildings with khulay doors coupled with the openness of people's hearts shows the community experience of partition as being warm, with a mutual desire to co-exist in peace.